Military officer sentenced to 30 years in prison for killing doctor in Santiago
A corporal of the Dominican Navy received 30 years in prison for the murder of a perinatology doctor in Hato del Yaque, Santiago, in 2024.
Navy corporal receives 30 years for murder of perinatology doctor in Santiago
The Fourth Collegiate Court of Santiago sentenced Víctor Manuel Saldaña Hernández, alias "Julio", a corporal of the Dominican Navy, to 30 years in prison after being found guilty of the murder of perinatology doctor Enrique Antonio Espinal Castillo. The crime occurred in the municipal district of Hato del Yaque, province of Santiago, in 2024, according to eldia.com.do.
Judges Rubén Darío Cruz Uceta, Rubén Rodríguez and Jasmín de los Santos issued the sentence and also imposed on the condemned man a payment of four million pesos in cash as an economic sanction.
Prosecutor Jenniffer Rodríguez argued the substantive hearing and the Public Ministry presented a wide variety of evidence to establish the criminal responsibility of Saldaña Hernández. Among the evidence, images from the National Emergency and Security Response System 9-1-1 were presented, which documented the accused's movement from the municipal district in Santiago to the province of San Cristóbal.
The investigation was initiated by the Santiago Public Prosecutor's Office through its Department of Physical Violence, following the disappearance of the victim. The enquiries gathered material, documentary, videographic and testimonial evidence that pointed to Corporal Saldaña Hernández as the primary suspect.
According to the proceedings, Espinal Castillo left his residence in the Villa Olga sector and went to the Los Guandules community in Hato del Yaque, where he met with the accused. Hours later, Saldaña Hernández dealt blunt force blows to his skull and face that caused his death.
The doctor's body was found on 5 August 2024 on a vacant lot in La Costa de Rafelito, in Sabana Grande de Palenque, San Cristóbal province. The perpetrator, originally from that area, transported the corpse in the boot of a white Hyundai Tucson SUV belonging to the victim, where he abandoned it.
Source: Google News DO — Santo Domingo